“Heist of the century”: Iraq issues arrest warrant
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Raven Ruma
- . March 4, 2023
- . Update: March 6, 2023 3:00 pm
The judiciary of Iraq issued arrest warrants for four former officials who are charged with aiding the theft of $2.5 billion in public funds in one of the largest-ever corruption scandals in the nation on Saturday.
Four prominent former government officials had “arrest orders issued for them,” according to a statement from the country’s anti-corruption department.
The four men, who include a former finance minister and Mustafa Al-relatives, Kadhimi all reside abroad, according to an agency official who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
According to the source, the officials are former finance minister Ali Allawi, director of cabinet Raed Jouhi, personal secretary Ahmed Najati, and advisor Mushrik Abbas. The warrants do not specifically name any of the officials.
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Allawi, a well-known academic and politician, resigned in August of last year after the scandal surfaced.
The case, which has been termed “the robbery of the century,” prompted indignation in Iraq, which is accused by opponents of being corrupt and home to significant amounts of oil.
With 247 checks that were cashed by five companies between September 2021 and August 2022, at least $2.5 billion was stolen. The funds were then taken out of the accounts of these businesses, the majority of whose owners are on the run.
According to the announcement, the four individuals are suspected of “facilitating the misappropriation of amounts belonging to the tax authorities,” and they will also have their assets frozen.
Since taking office in late October, the nation’s current prime minister, Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, has committed to eradicating corruption.
